Golden Dome plans move forward but questions loom
Senior Space Force leaders confirmed last week that President Trump's Golden Dome missile defense initiative is moving through the early concept phase, with next moves to be decided by the White House. "We're still in the early planning of it, trying to think about it at a high level," said Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations.
Golden Dome aims to defend against ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missile threats using a patchwork of space-based and ground systems. But don't think of it as a traditional weapons program. "You don't buy Golden Dome," Saltzman explained. "You orchestrate it."
'Sticker shock' — Some initial estimates have put costs north of $500 billion, but Saltzman warns the real number could be higher. "I've never seen an early estimate that was too high," he said. Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) floated an eye-popping potential: trillions. The fiscal year 2026 Pentagon budget is expected to include preliminary funding, Space Force Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton said last week.
Technical gauntlet — One of the toughest hurdles? Intercepting missiles in the boost phase — a feat never before pulled off from space. "Really hard thing to do … and we're gonna do it or figure it out," Bratton said.
Political headwinds — Golden Dome is already drawing fire from Democrats worried about deterrence and feasibility. "We're not sure it's going to work," Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said.
Reed rips 'slush fund' — Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, slammed the GOP-backed plan to bankroll Golden Dome through a $150 billion reconciliation bill, calling it "essentially a slush fund." Speaking at a Defense Writers Group teleconference, Reed said the maneuver would undercut Congress' constitutional budget authority and strip lawmakers of key oversight.
On Golden Dome itself, Reed struck a cautious tone: "They have to identify the technologies, they have to go ahead and design an integrated plan — that's still a work in progress." He also raised red flags about the rumored role of Elon Musk's Starlink network as a communications backbone for Golden Dome, calling the use of non-military contractors in sensitive communications "a security risk" given the service's global user base.
Industry call to arms — The Missile Defense Agency and Space Force are co-hosting a "Golden Dome for America" Industry Summit next month in Huntsville, Ala., to court commercial tech companies — especially those outside the traditional defense sphere. According to the solicitation, "Non-traditional contractors are highly encouraged to attend" as MDA looks for "outside the box" thinking to shape the future of missile defense. The summit will also brief attendees on how MDA and Space Force roles align within the broader Golden Dome framework.
Speed vs. systems — Critics say the Pentagon's traditional acquisition pipeline could doom the program. "If [DoD] tries to do this using the 5000 regulations and [Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System] process, it will fail," warned Booz Allen executive Chris Bogdan, calling for a czar with bypass authority to fast-track progress.
Industry ready to swarm — Booz Allen is pitching a concept called "Brilliant Swarms," featuring hundreds of AI-powered microsatellites that detect and destroy incoming threats. The firm said it's already drawing interest from over 40 companies across the space sector.
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